Construction & Property

Manage hazardous construction materials

How to comply with COSHH 2002 when working with cement, silica dust, solvents, and wood dust on construction sites, and with the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 when disturbing lead paint. Covers COSHH assessments, workplace exposure limits, health surveillance, RPE selection, and dust suppression controls.

UK-wide
Guide summary

You must protect your construction workers from dangerous materials by identifying hazards and putting controls in place. This includes assessing risks, controlling dust and chemicals, providing protective gear, and monitoring worker health. Failing to manage silica dust is a top enforcement priority for 2026/27.

  • Identify all hazardous substances on your site
  • Complete a COSHH assessment for each substance
  • Prioritise removing risks first, then reducing
  • Use engineering controls like water and ventilation
  • Provide correct breathing masks (RPE) - FFP3 minimum for silica
  • Fit-test all tight-fitting RPE for individual workers
  • Arrange health checks for workers exposed to high-risk substances
  • Train workers on risks and how to use controls
  • Review assessments regularly and keep records safe
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UK-wide

Related guides in Health & Safety

When this applies

You must manage hazardous construction materials if your workers are exposed to substances that can cause ill health on site. This includes activities such as:

  • Cutting, grinding, or drilling concrete, brick, stone, or engineered stone (silica dust)
  • Mixing, laying, or finishing cement, mortar, or concrete (cement dermatitis and burns)
  • Sanding, sawing, or routing timber (wood dust)
  • Using paints, adhesives, sealants, or cleaning agents (solvents and isocyanates)
  • Disturbing or removing old lead-based paint during refurbishment

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) place a legal duty on employers to assess and control exposure to these substances. Note that lead is not covered by COSHH: work that disturbs lead-based paint falls under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW, SI 2002/2676), which has its own assessment duty, occupational exposure limit, blood-lead action levels, and medical surveillance requirements - treat it as a separate regime, as you would asbestos. Silica dust control is a current HSE enforcement priority, with inspectors actively checking COSHH assessments and dust controls on construction sites.

How to comply

Follow these steps to meet your COSHH duties for hazardous materials on construction sites.

  1. 1

    1. Identify hazardous substances on your site

    List every substance your workers use or create on site. Check product labels and obtain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) from suppliers. Include process-generated substances such as silica dust from cutting concrete, wood dust from sawing timber, and welding fumes. Do not overlook cleaning products, release agents, and adhesives.

  2. 2

    2. Complete a COSHH assessment for each substance

    For each hazardous substance, record who is exposed, how they are exposed (inhalation, skin contact, ingestion), how often and for how long, and what controls are needed. Use the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet and HSE COSHH Essentials guidance sheets. Review and update assessments when work activities change.

  3. 3

    3. Apply the hierarchy of controls

    Prioritise controls in this order: eliminate the substance entirely; substitute with a less hazardous alternative (for example, water-based coatings instead of solvent-based); use engineering controls such as wet cutting, water suppression, or on-tool local exhaust ventilation (LEV); implement procedural controls such as limiting exposure time; provide RPE and PPE only as a last resort.

  4. 4

    4. Select and provide appropriate RPE

    Where engineering controls alone cannot reduce exposure below workplace exposure limits, provide respiratory protective equipment (RPE). FFP3 disposable respirators are the minimum for silica and hardwood dust. Powered air-purifying respirators give higher protection for prolonged or heavy-dust tasks. All tight-fitting RPE must be face-fit tested for each individual worker under COSHH Regulation 7.

  5. 5

    5. Set up health surveillance

    Arrange health surveillance through an occupational health provider for workers regularly exposed to silica dust, cement, hardwood dust, or other substances where COSHH assessment identifies a risk of occupational disease. Health surveillance typically includes baseline and periodic lung function testing and skin checks. Keep health surveillance records for 40 years.

  6. 6

    6. Train your workforce

    Before work starts, train all workers on the hazardous substances they will encounter, the health risks, how to use controls and PPE correctly, emergency procedures for spills or overexposure, and how to report symptoms. Refresh training when substances or methods change.

Silica dust: workplace exposure limit and controls

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is generated whenever concrete, sandstone, brick, mortar, or engineered stone is cut, ground, drilled, or demolished. Inhaling silica dust causes silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. There is no known safe level of exposure.

You must keep exposure as low as reasonably practicable and always below the workplace exposure limit.

Dust suppression methods for silica

These are the most effective engineering controls for construction sites:

  • Wet cutting: Attach a water supply to disc cutters, wall chasers, and core drills. Water suppression can reduce dust by over 90%.
  • On-tool extraction: Fit local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to power tools. Use an M-class or H-class extraction unit for construction dust including silica (H-class is mandatory only for asbestos).
  • Enclosed cutting areas: Where practicable, cut materials in a segregated area away from other workers.
  • Damping down: Wet surfaces before demolition or breaking out. Avoid dry sweeping of dust; use an M-class or H-class vacuum or damped-down methods instead.

Cement: dermatitis prevention

Wet cement is strongly alkaline (pH 12-13) and contains traces of chromium VI, which causes allergic contact dermatitis. Once a worker becomes sensitised to chromium VI, the allergy is permanent and they may be unable to continue working with cement.

Preventing skin contact is essential. The following snippet sets out the regulatory limits and required control measures.

PPE requirements on construction sites

PPE is a last resort under the hierarchy of controls, but construction sites almost always require baseline PPE. When working with hazardous substances, you must ensure workers have the correct equipment for the specific risk, not just standard site PPE.

Common problems

  • Workers not using RPE: Check that RPE has been face-fit tested and is comfortable. Poorly fitting masks encourage removal. Consider powered respirators for extended tasks.
  • Wet cutting not practical on site: Use on-tool extraction with an M-class or H-class vacuum as an alternative. Where neither is possible, segregate the work and restrict access to the immediate area.
  • No Safety Data Sheets available: Contact your supplier directly. Under REACH, suppliers must provide an SDS for any substance classified as hazardous. Do not use a substance without an SDS.
  • Worker reports skin irritation: Remove them from cement or solvent contact immediately. Refer them for occupational health assessment. Record the incident and review your COSHH assessment. Confirmed occupational dermatitis is reportable under RIDDOR.
  • HSE inspector asks for COSHH assessments: You must be able to produce written COSHH assessments for every hazardous substance on site. Keep them accessible in the site office alongside Safety Data Sheets.

What to do next

  • Review your COSHH assessments at least annually, or whenever work methods, substances, or site conditions change
  • Ensure LEV equipment is examined and tested at least every 14 months by a competent person
  • If workers handle asbestos-containing materials, separate regulations apply — see the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
  • For construction product marking and compliance (CE/UKCA), see our guide on construction product marking compliance
  • For a quick compliance check across all construction materials obligations, see the construction materials compliance checklist

Official guidance and legislation